Read Online Virtue and Vanity: Continuing Story of Desire and Duty by Ted Bader, Marilyn Bader - Free Book Online
Authors: Ted Bader, Marilyn Bader
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their hostess replied.
Laura asked, “Please show me the position that says, “I want to know you better.”
The young women laughed as Madame Duval used her left hand to hold the fan coquetishly in front of her face. She then continued, “Whatever you do girls, don’t place the half-open fan to your lips.”
“Why?” asked Maria innocently as Laura and Sarah tried to smother their mirth.
“Maria, my dear, that position means ‘kiss me’.”
Maria’s face colored.
At that moment, a servant entered. “The Marquis de Mascarille has arrived.”
“Wait a moment,” their hostess said, “we need to put these fans away. . . there, now you may show him in.”
Laura whispered to the others, “I am glad we do not need fans today. . . I am not ready. My fan might say the wrong thing.”
As the Marquis bowed and entered the room he said, “Ah, the most enchanting women in France.”
“Please, sit down, my Lord,” Madame Duval said, gesturing toward a chair.
Looking at Laura, the visitor complied and continued, “How would Lady Bingley like to visit the Louvre?”
Laura’s face blushed slightly at the first time use of “lady” appended to her name. She looked at Madame Duval and then spoke, “I do not think I would be interested.”
“You surprise me. Why only yesterday, you said you loved portraits.” Leaning forward in his chair, he continued,” I should like to show you some of my own work, which is on exhibition.”
“I know so little about you, my lord.”
Leaning back into his chair, he smiled slightly, “Ah. I see your reluctance. Of course, you wish to be introduced into society before making the circle of sights.”
Laura did not reply but tilted her head in a coquettish manner.
The Marquis continued, “Would you allow me to escort you to the ball tomorrow evening?”
The ladies were silent and the aristocrat continued, “Of course, I mean your happy quadrille.”
Madame Duval replied, “We shall be honored to be escorted by our lord.”
“Excellent. My carriage will call at eight o’clock.”
The visitor stood in a stance reminiscent of a peacock and asked, “What do you think of my accessories? Do they match well?”
He looked at Sarah, who replied, “Very well, my lord.”
“What do you think of my stockings?”
Laura eagerly replied, “They are the best of taste. I, myself, wear only the finest of stockings.”
Maria blurted out sarcastically, “I must confess that I have never seen a more perfect and elegant ensemble.”
The Marquis cried out sharply, “Gently! By jove , ladies, you use me very ill! I must complain of your treatment, indeed, I must. This is not fair.”
Laura replied, “What is the matter, my lord?”
“You both besiege my heart at once. Attack me on both flanks. The sides are not equal. I vow I will cry murder.”
Sarah whispered to Madame Duval, “He certainly has an original way of putting things.”
“An admirable wit,” Laura said.
“My heart hangs by a single thread. . . .” here the Marquis paused and the servant announced.
“Two English gentlemen, Mr. Andrew Darcy and Mr. John Darcy.”
The brothers walked into the room with John holding a riding stick under his arm. Those already in the room stood as Laura raised a superior tone. “What are you two doing here? Can you not see we are entertaining a Lord?”
Madame Duval quickly reassured, “Of course, you are welcome. I believe you know the ladies. This is the Marquis de Mascarille .”
As the Marquis bowed, John slapped him on the back several times with his riding stick and said, “There you are, you rascal. We have been looking for you for the past three hours.”
The aristocrat replied, “Oh, oh, oh! You never told me there was to be a thrashing in the bargain.”
Maria stepped forward and tried to restrain her brother, “John, do you realize what you are about?”
Laura stood aghast as she watched the happenings.
Andrew said, “You are a fine
Laura asked, “Please show me the position that says, “I want to know you better.”
The young women laughed as Madame Duval used her left hand to hold the fan coquetishly in front of her face. She then continued, “Whatever you do girls, don’t place the half-open fan to your lips.”
“Why?” asked Maria innocently as Laura and Sarah tried to smother their mirth.
“Maria, my dear, that position means ‘kiss me’.”
Maria’s face colored.
At that moment, a servant entered. “The Marquis de Mascarille has arrived.”
“Wait a moment,” their hostess said, “we need to put these fans away. . . there, now you may show him in.”
Laura whispered to the others, “I am glad we do not need fans today. . . I am not ready. My fan might say the wrong thing.”
As the Marquis bowed and entered the room he said, “Ah, the most enchanting women in France.”
“Please, sit down, my Lord,” Madame Duval said, gesturing toward a chair.
Looking at Laura, the visitor complied and continued, “How would Lady Bingley like to visit the Louvre?”
Laura’s face blushed slightly at the first time use of “lady” appended to her name. She looked at Madame Duval and then spoke, “I do not think I would be interested.”
“You surprise me. Why only yesterday, you said you loved portraits.” Leaning forward in his chair, he continued,” I should like to show you some of my own work, which is on exhibition.”
“I know so little about you, my lord.”
Leaning back into his chair, he smiled slightly, “Ah. I see your reluctance. Of course, you wish to be introduced into society before making the circle of sights.”
Laura did not reply but tilted her head in a coquettish manner.
The Marquis continued, “Would you allow me to escort you to the ball tomorrow evening?”
The ladies were silent and the aristocrat continued, “Of course, I mean your happy quadrille.”
Madame Duval replied, “We shall be honored to be escorted by our lord.”
“Excellent. My carriage will call at eight o’clock.”
The visitor stood in a stance reminiscent of a peacock and asked, “What do you think of my accessories? Do they match well?”
He looked at Sarah, who replied, “Very well, my lord.”
“What do you think of my stockings?”
Laura eagerly replied, “They are the best of taste. I, myself, wear only the finest of stockings.”
Maria blurted out sarcastically, “I must confess that I have never seen a more perfect and elegant ensemble.”
The Marquis cried out sharply, “Gently! By jove , ladies, you use me very ill! I must complain of your treatment, indeed, I must. This is not fair.”
Laura replied, “What is the matter, my lord?”
“You both besiege my heart at once. Attack me on both flanks. The sides are not equal. I vow I will cry murder.”
Sarah whispered to Madame Duval, “He certainly has an original way of putting things.”
“An admirable wit,” Laura said.
“My heart hangs by a single thread. . . .” here the Marquis paused and the servant announced.
“Two English gentlemen, Mr. Andrew Darcy and Mr. John Darcy.”
The brothers walked into the room with John holding a riding stick under his arm. Those already in the room stood as Laura raised a superior tone. “What are you two doing here? Can you not see we are entertaining a Lord?”
Madame Duval quickly reassured, “Of course, you are welcome. I believe you know the ladies. This is the Marquis de Mascarille .”
As the Marquis bowed, John slapped him on the back several times with his riding stick and said, “There you are, you rascal. We have been looking for you for the past three hours.”
The aristocrat replied, “Oh, oh, oh! You never told me there was to be a thrashing in the bargain.”
Maria stepped forward and tried to restrain her brother, “John, do you realize what you are about?”
Laura stood aghast as she watched the happenings.
Andrew said, “You are a fine
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